This is a collection of news about border issues, particularly those seen from Arizona and regarding the right to keep and bear arms. Sources often include Mexican media. It's often interesting to see how different the view is from the south.
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Saturday, March 10, 2012

AZMEX UPDATE 9-3-12

AZMEX UPDATE 9 MAR 2012

Note: nothing was found at the Guerena home. This case once again raised the need for a protocol between law enforcement and citizens when someone shows up at the front door.

Three people connected to Jose Guerena, the man shot and killed during a SWAT raid in May 2011, were arrested on drug and money- laundering charges Thursday morning.Pauline Guerena, her father, Jose Celaya, and sister Denise Ruiz face charges of illegal control of enterprise, marijuana possession for sale and money laundering, according to Pima County jail records.Pauline Guerena, 31, is married to Jose Guerena's older brother Alejandro. She is facing an additional charge of fraudulent schemes and artifice.The three were arrested at the corner of South Camino Verde and West Oklahoma Street as they were leaving their home in the 6200 block of West Oklahoma Street, said Deputy Dawn Barkman, a Pima County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman.Deputies found more than $30,000 in the two vehicles they were in, she said.They were booked into the Pima County jail. Bond was set at $25,000 for Pauline Guerena and Ruiz and $50,000 for Celaya.Deputies executed a search warrant on the home on Oklahoma Street owned by Celaya.Jose Guerena, 26, was shot on May 5 by members of the Pima County Regional SWAT team who were serving a search warrant as part of a drug-trafficking investigation in the 7100 block of South Redwater Drive.The SWAT team raided three other houses that day, including two owned by Celaya, in search of items used for drug trafficking and home invasions.Nearly $100,000 in cash, 30 cellphones, an AK-47 rifle, other guns, ammunition, bulletproof vests, lists with names and dollar amounts, a stolen vehicle and marijuana were seized from Celaya's homes during the May raid, according to Star archives.In 1993, Celaya was arrested by the Drug Enforcement Administration on charges of conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine and served six months in prison and two years' probation.Before the search warrants were served in May, SWAT team members were told in a briefing that Jose and Alejandro Guerena and Celaya may be connected with a March 2010 double homicide in which Manuel and Cynthia Orozco, who is Celaya's daughter, were killed during a home invasion.Contact reporter Veronica Cruz at vcruz@azstarnet.com or 573-4224.

Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents seized $47,888 in cash and 210 pounds of marijuana during several separate incidents Wednesday, all at a checkpoint on Interstate 10.

During the first incident, agents referred a 2005 pickup truck to secondary inspection after a working dog alerted them to the possible presence of contraband.

Agents allegedly found $34,971 in cash and half a gram of hashish oil, a derivative of cannabis. The cash, driver, vehicle and hashish oil were turned over to the La Paz County Sheriff's Office.

In the second incident, agents referred a gray Infinity to secondary inspection after being alerted by a working dog. They reported finding five bundles of cash totaling $10,000 bound together with rubber bands inside luggage.

Minutes later, agents referred a rented silver Toyota Camry to secondary inspection after being alerted by a working dog. Agents allegedly found eight bundles containing marijuana in the trunk.

During their investigation, agents discovered information that led them to suspect that the driver who had previously been detained in the gray Infinity had signed the rental agreement for the silver Toyota Camry.

The marijuana, worth an estimated $105,375, and the cash, vehicles and five individuals were turned over to the La Paz County Sheriff's Office.

The final incident happened later in the day when another vehicle was referred to secondary inspection after an alert from a working dog.

Agents allegedly found $2,917 in cash and 25.5 grams of marijuana hidden inside a duffel bag in the vehicle's trunk.

Both the driver and passenger denied ownership of the $2,917. The cash, marijuana and both occupants were turned over to the La Paz County Sheriff's Office.

According to the Border Patrol, when agents discover large amounts of currency during checkpoint inspections, they investigate further to determine if the money is connected to illegal activities.

During fiscal year 2011, the Yuma Sector seized more than $800,000 they determined was profit from illegal activity.